Punch



June 3,1941. P. o. UNGER PUNCH Filed Nov. 18, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet lATTORNEY.

' June 3, 1941. P. o. UNGER PUNCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1939Patented June 3, 1941 UNETED STATES TENT OFFICE MassachusettsApplication November 18, 1939, Serial No. 305,064

8 "Claims.

This invention relates to a punch for perforating loose sheets of paperor similar material so that they may be inserted into a loose leafbinder.

The punch is also designed to perforate file folders to receiveconventional paper fasteners.

It is customary to provide a uniform back gauge of approximately whenpunching sheets which are to be impaled on the prongs of a ring binderor of a fastener secured to a file folder. However, it is desirable toprovide a deeper back gauge of approximately for perforating filefolders. This is necessary because of the width of the conventionalpaper fastener. Although a choice of two back gauges of approximatelythe distances mentioned is sufficient for practically all punchingrequirements, all back gauges previously designed for varying thedistance between the perforation and the edge of the punched sheet havebeen adjustable throughout the range from approximately to The result ofsuch construction is that it has been necessary to exercise considerablecare in changing the back gauge from one depth to another in order toobtain uniform performance when punching sheets and file folders on thesame punch.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and inexpensivepunch with back gauges that may change the effective depth of the throatof the punch from either of two predetermined distances to the otherwith a minimum of effort and no possibility of error. It is a furtherobject of this invention to provide a punch with interchangeable punchheads that may be adjusted laterally, inserted, or removed, veryquickly.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the punch with parts broken away tofacilitate illustration of the structure; a

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the punch with parts broken away tofacilitate illustration of the structure;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the punch;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional .view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1;and

Figure 6 is a detailed perspective view of one of the punch heads.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates a base memberprovided with a removable chip pan 3. In the preferred embodiment thechip pan is formed of rubber shaped to cling to the depending walls ofthe base member, but any desired type of chip pan may be used instead.The base member is provided with a plurality of slots 4. An upstandingbracket 5 projects thru each of these slots and has a flange 6 welded tothe under surface of the base member.

Each bracket 5 is provided with an aperture 1 adjacent its top edge toreceive a hinge rod 8 by means of which a pressure bar 9 is pivotallysecured to the bracket. One edge of the pressure bar 9 is curled to forma hinge ferrule Ill adapted to receive the hinge rod 8. The pressure bar9 is .providedwith a reinforcing plate I I welded or riveted to itsunder surface. A handle I2 of any suitable configuration is welded tothe top surface of the pressure bar 9. The handle I2 may be formedintegrally with the pressure bar, if desired. The handle I2 ispreferably disposed centrally of the pressure bar to equalize thestresses when the pressure bar is operated. a

A plurality of punch heads I3 is positioned on the base member betweenthe brackets 5. Each punch head comprises a die plate I4 provided withan aperture I5 of any desired size and shape. A punching pin I6 of thesame size and shape as the aperture I5 is supported vertically overtheaperture I5 by means of a frame member having a GOP wall I1, a sidewall I8 and a bottom wall I9. The bottom Wall I9 is provided withanaperture 20in registration with the aperture I5 and fun tions as astripper plate. A spacer 2I is positioned between the die plate I4 andthe stripper plate I9. The forward edge 22 of the spacer constitutes theback of the throat 23 into which the sheets to be punched are inserted,and limits the insertion of such sheets to provide the desired maximumdistance between the perforations and the edge of the sheet.

The top wall I! is bent parallel to the stripper plate I9 and isprovided with an aperture 24 in registration with the apertures I5 and20. The punching pin I6 is positioned in the apertures 20 and 24 and isprovided with a collar 25 rigidly secured thereto in any suitablemanner. A coil spring26 encircles the punching pin I6 between thestripper plate I9 and the collar 25 to exert constant pressure urgingthe collar 25 against the upper wall I! of the frame member. The upperend of the punching pin I6 is positioned directly underneath thereinforcing plate I.I so that when the handle I2 is depressed thepunchingfpin is forced downwardly against the action of the springZBuntil its cutting end projects thru the sheets and into the die apertureI5. Upon release of the handle I Zthe spring 26 forces the punching pinupwardly so that the punched sheets may be removed.

Thebase member .2 is provided with a slot 27 extending throughoutsubstantially its entire length and positioned in alignment with theapertures I5 so;that;the chips may fall therethrough into the chip pan3.

A bushing 28 is secured to the side wall I8 and extends a distancesubstantially equal to the width of the punch head. The bushing isprovided at its end with a reduced neck 29 upon which a lever 30 ispivotally secured. The lever 30 is parallel to the wall l8 and fitsagainst the edge of the plates l4 and i9. One edge 3| of the lever isshaped so as to provide a perpendicular wall when the lever is moveddownwardly to the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6. Inthis position the edge 3| effectively closes a portion of the throat 23and limits the insertion of the sheets to provide the predetermined backgauge. The edge of the lever 30 adjacent the edge 3| which engages thetop surface of the base member 2 when the lever is in its down positionextends at right angles to the edge 3| to insure proper positioning ofthe edge 3| as a shorter gauge for the throat 23. The base member 2 isimperforate throughout the area where it may be engaged by the edge ofthe lever 30.

The base member 2 is provided with a flange 32 spaced a short distanceabove the rear edge of the base. The die plate l4 projects beyond thespacer 2|, as indicated at 33, and this portion 33 is positioned betweenthe flange 32 and the top of the base member 2 when the punch head is tobe positioned in the punch. The front edge of the die plate l4 merelyabuts against a plate 34. The plate 34 is provided with a scale 35adapted to cooperate with a gauge mark 36 on the front edge of the dieplate to facilitate proper lateral positioning of the punch head.

The brackets are each provided with a D- shaped aperture 37 adapted toregister with the apertures of the bushings 28 when the punch heads arein the above described position. A D-shaped rod 38 is passed through theapertures in the brackets and the bushings to maintain the punch headsin lateral alignment. One end bracket is provided with a bushing 39 anda set screw 40 to maintain the rod 38 in position. Each bushing 28 isalso provided with a set screw 4| to maintain the punch heads in desiredlateral position. Although the punch heads may all be exactly alike, itis preferred to provide rights and lefts, as indicated in Figure 2, toprevent any possibility of the brackets 5 interfering with any desiredlateral spacing of the punch heads. The punch is also preferablyprovided with a sliding side gauge 42 of any desired construction.

When it is desired to remove a punch head from the punch it is necessaryonly to loosen the set screws 40 and 4| and pull the rod 38 out farenough to disengage the punch head. The front edge of the punch head maythen be raised slightly to disengage the front edge of the die plate 14from its abutting engagement with the die plate 34, and the punch headmay be removed without difficulty. When it is de-- sired to change theback gauge from one depth to the other it is necessary only to flip eachlever 30 from one position to the other and there is no possibility ofany error in the final adjustment.

Although I have described one embodiment of my invention in considerabledetail, it will be understood that the description thereof isillustrative rather than restrictive as many details may be modified orchanged without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact details ofconstruction described except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a punch, a base member, a plurality of upstanding brackets securedto said base member, a plurality of removable punch heads positioned onsaid base member, each of said punch heads having a pivoted back gaugesecured thereto, and a rod passing through said brackets and said punchheads to maintain said punch heads in lateral alignment.

2. In a punch, a base member, a plurality of brackets projectingupwardly from said base member, said brackets being provided with aD-shaped aperture, a plurality of punch heads positioned on said base,each of said punch heads having a bushing, a D-shaped rod passingthrough said bushings and said D-shaped apertures to maintain said punchheads in lateral alignment, each of said punch heads including apunching pin, and a pressure bar pivotally secured to said brackets andoperable to depress said punching pins.

3. In a punch, a base member, a plurality of punch heads positioned onsaid base, each of said punch heads being provided with a punchmg pm anda back gauge, said back gauge being pivoted to provide a choice of onlytwo positions, meansfor adjustably maintaining said punch heads inlateral alignment, and a pressure bar p1voted above said punch heads andextending substantially the length of said base member, said pressurebar being operable to depress said punching pins.

4. In a punch, a base member, a plurality of removable punch headspositioned on said base member, each of said punch heads includmg a dieplate, a punching pin, a frame member supporting said punching pin abovesaid die plate, a spacer providing a throat between said die plate andsaid frame member, said spacer providing a fixed back wall for saidthroat, and a p1voted lever forming an alternative back wall ior saidthroat in one position, a pressure bar pivoted above said punching pins,and a D- shaped rod adapted to maintain said punch heads in properposition, said punch heads being removable upon withdrawal of said rod.

5. In a punch head, a throat into which sheets to be punched may beinserted, said throat havmg a fixed back wall to limit the distance towhich sheets may be inserted, and movable means secured to said punchhead to limit the insertion of sheets into said throat a differentpredetermined distance, said means permitting no intermediateadjustments.

6. In a punch head, a throat into which sheets to be punched may beinserted, said throat havmg a fixed back wall adapted to limit the depthto which sheets may be inserted, and a lever secured to said punch headand operable to modify the effective length of said throat onepredetermined distance only.

7. In a punch head, a throat into which sheets to be punched may beinserted, a frame member positioned above said throat, a back gaugepivoted to said frame member so as to block a predetermined portion ofsaid throat.

8. In a punch head, a die plate, a frame member, a spacer separatingsaid die plate and said frame to provide a throat into which sheets tobe punched may be inserted, and a lever pivoted to said frame member andoperable to block a portion of said throat to limit the distance a sheetmay be inserted.

PAUL O. UNGER.

